Slack-adjuster mechanism



L. L. WHITNEY smcx ADJUSTER ma'cmursm Filed July 5, 1522 Aug. 5 1924.

Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOREN L. WHITNEY, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SLACK-ADJUSTER MECHANISM.

Application filed July 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOREN L. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Slack-Adjuster Mechanism, of .which the following, is a specification. 1 a

This invention relates to slack adjuster 0 mechanism which is adapted for use particularly in connection with brakes.

The object of this invention is to provide slack adjuster means having relatively few parts, all of which are simple, are easily and simply assembled and which cooperate in a manner to meet all of the requirements for the intended use.

This and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangement disclosed on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a slack adjuster block;

Figure 2 is an end view thereof;

Figure 3 is a sideelevation of the same slack adjuster block mounted within an adjuster jaw;

Figure 1 is a plan view of the same arrangement as shown in Figure 3;

through the adjuster jaw and block showing flanges on the block bent into a position to permit the passage of the block into. the. jaw; and p Q Figure 6 is a similar sectional view taken in the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 3 showing the normal relative positions of the adjuster jaw and block after the flanges are bent into their normal operative positions.

The various novel featuresof the inven; tion will be apparent from the following description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the figures of the drawings,

it will be noted that my invention relates to a slack adjuster including a relatively movable member 10 having a jaw portion 11 in the form of a closed loop having sides 12. An adjuster block 13 is mounted within the jaw portions 1110f the memberlO and has two sets of flanges 17 and 18 which normally embrace the edges of the sides 12 for retaining the adjuster block within the jaw and Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view.

1922. Serial Nd. 572,397.

for guiding the relative movements between the jaw member 11 and the block 13.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2

lever fulcrum pin, also not shown, is received in the bifurcationslf) at the ends of the arms and retained in such position by keys, not shown, extending through the openings 16 in the ends. The brake lever, its fulcrum pin and the keys are not shown for purposes of clearance, and also for the reason that such elements form no part of the invention. The outwardly projecting flanges 17 at the upper part of each arm 14 remain in their normal right angle position with respect to the arms 14 for cooperating to guidedly maintain the block 13 in operative position within the jaw 11 after the block is once mounted therein. The other flanges 18 also cooperate with the flanges 17 in this re spect. The flanges 18, however, are bent into the planes of the arms 14 preparatory to placing the block 13 within the jaw 11. The flanges 18 are shown bent downwardly in Figures 1, 2 and 5. To facilitate the bending of the flanges 18, the lower part of each 7 of the arms 1 1 is recessed at 19.

In assembling the block 13with respect to the jaw 11., the flanges 18 are either in, or bent into the same plane with the arms 14, whereupon the block 13 is passed between the sides 12 of the jaw 11 until the flanges 17 pass int engagement with said side members 12, as shown particularly in Figure 5, whereupon the flanges 18 may be bent upwardly into a right angle relationship-with respect to the arms 14, as shown in Figure 6,in which position the flanges 18 and 18 are in'their normal positions for maintaining the operative" relationship between the adjuster bloek 13 and adjuster jaw 1- Any suitable means, such as an adjusting screw 20, may be employed for giving 1 a relative movement to the block 13 and jaw 11 for varying or adjusting the slack in accordance with requirements. It will be understood that if the adjusting screw 20 is rotated in one direction there will be a relative movement between the block 13 and jaw 11 in one direction, and if rotated in the opposite direction there will be a relative movement between the block and jaw inithe opposite direction;

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim j 1. A, slack adjuster including, in combination, an adjuster jaw, and an adjuster block having flanges cooperating with said jaw whereby the block is adj'ustably and' guidedly mounted insaid jaw, certain. of said flanges being capable of beingplaced in difierent relative positions, in one" of said positions permitting said bloclrto be applied to said jaw and in another: position after beingnapplied to said jaw retaining the block therein.

2.. A. slack adjuster including, in combination, an. adjuster aw, and .an adjuster block having arms with flanges which cooperate with said jaw for maintaining said sociati'on with said jaw.

3.71%. slack adjuster including, in combination, an adjuster jaw, and an adjuster block adjustably mounted withinsaid jaw,

said block having spaced arms with laterally extending flanges, certain of said flanges being capable of being bent into the planeof said arms topermit the block to beapplied to said jaw and then bent back at right-angles to said arms to retain said block'within said jaw.

Signed-at Hammond, Indiana, this 22nd day of June, 1922.

LOREN. L. WHITNEY: 

